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Berkley police sued for wrongful death; former GM building target of ADA suit

• The family of Lisa Kindl has filed a wrongful death suit against the Berkley Police, on allegations that Kindl slipped into convulsions in her cell at the city police lockup and died of alcohol withdrawal.

The Detroit News reports that the 47-year-old, who was known to the court system and police as a “chronic serious alcoholic,” repeatedly asked officers for help during her July 2010 holding.

The suit alleges that 15 officers, including the police chief, may have had similar knowledge of her medical needs, and she was denied proper emergency medical care for hours despite complaints to officers.

The lawsuit was filed July 9 in Oakland County Circuit Court by Southfield attorney Mark Boegehold, and assigned to Judge Daniel O’Brien.

• Richard Bernstein of The Sam Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills is asking that the former General Motors Corp. headquarters be renovated to comply with American with Disabilities Act standards.

According to MLive, his client, Jill Babcock, who works for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, moved into the building in October. She said that, while some adjustments have been to accommodate her wheelchair, such as the addition of a button-operated bathroom stall, not nearly enough has been done for disabled access building-wide.

The suit was filed July 10 at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

• Flint attorney Tom Pabst is contending that Brian Fairchild, former police sergeant for Flushing Township, was fired for retaliatory reasons because of his involvement in a campaign to oust trustees from office.

MLive says that Fairchild claims his rights under the Whistleblower Protection Act were violated, because he actively participating in a recall campaign against trustees Michael Gardner and Bill Noecker, who are named as defendants. The township, its Supervisor Terry Peck, and trustees Scott Minaudo and Mark Purkey also are named.

Peck contends that Fairchild’s termination was for budgetary reasons.

The suit was filed in Genesee County Circuit Court and assigned to Judge Geoffrey Neithercut.